(1) Bauer,R (2270) - Ehlvest,J (2750) [A30] World Open (1), 01.07.2000 This is the best player that I ever drew. 1.Nf3 The most flexible move available. 1...c5 2.c4 I learned my strategy for stronger players by studying how some weaker players gave me trouble. The idea is not to play for an advantage but to deny Black play from move 1 on. 2...g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 Nc6 5.0-0 a6!? Black takes advantage of not having a knight on f6 by starting action on the queenside while the long bishop is uncovered. 6.Nc3 Rb8 7.a4!? d6 8.d3 Nh6 White could try 9.d4 here, taking advantage of the Nh6 before it can be brought to f5. 9.Bd2 0-0 10.Rb1 Nf5 11.Ne1 A standard maneuver to better coordinate the forces. 11...Bd7 12.Nc2 Nfd4 13.Nxd4 cxd4 14.Nd5 a5 15.b4 e6 16.b5 Ne5 17.Nf4 b6 18.Bc1 Bc8 19.Bb2 Nd7 20.e3 dxe3 21.fxe3 Bxb2 22.Rxb2 Qc7 23.Rbf2 Bb7 24.Bxb7 Qxb7 25.Qg4 Rbe8 26.Qg5 f6 27.Qg4 f5 28.Qe2 Nf6 29.Qf3 Qxf3 30.Rxf3 Nd7 Black skillfully takes over the initiative. 31.d4 Nf6 32.R3f2 Rc8 33.Rc2 e5 34.Nd3 Rfe8 35.dxe5 dxe5 36.c5! This temporary pawn sac is justified by the strong post that the Nd3 reaches. Otherwise the backward c-pawn will cripple White. 36...e4 37.Nb2 Ng4 38.Re1 bxc5 39.Nc4 Rcd8 40.Nxa5 Ra8 41.Nc6 Rxa4 42.h3 Ne5 43.Nxe5 Rxe5 44.Rb1 Rb4 45.Rcb2 Rxb2 46.Rxb2 c4 47.b6 Re8! Black will stop the runaway b-pawn and then count on his pawn plus to win. 48.g4!? Kg7 49.Kf2 c3 50.Rc2 Rb8 51.Rxc3 Rxb6 52.Rc7+ Kh6 53.Kg3 Rb1 54.gxf5 gxf5 55.Kh4 White is right on the verge of losing, but just manages to hold. 55...Rg1 56.Re7 Rf1 57.Re6+ Kg7 58.Kg5 h6+ 59.Rxh6 Rg1+ 60.Kh5 Rg3 61.Ra6! Kf7 62.Ra3 If 62...f4 63.Ra7+ breaks the pin. 62...Rxh3+ 63.Kg5 Rf3 64.Ra6! Black will not be able to make progress with his king cut off. 64...Ke7 65.Rb6 Kd7 66.Ra6 f4 67.exf4 e3 68.f5 e2 69.Re6 Rf2 70.Kg4 After 71.Kg3 the final two pawns would come off. 1/2-1/2